Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Get More Than 11 Right on This Difficult European Geography Challenge?

Kale Havervold

Image: wsfurlan / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

While there are many diverse continents and parts of the world, Europe might sit at the top of that list. Nearly every race and nationality is represented in Europe, with more and more people from around the world calling it home. There are almost 30 different currencies in the continent, 24 official and working languages and countless others spoken by smaller groups.

However, in addition to the people of Europe, even the geography of the area is incredibly diverse. You have huge cities with millions of people, frozen tundras, rainforests, beaches, villages and everything in between. There are the highest of peaks and the lowest of valleys located throughout the country. But how much do you know about this varied geography of Europe? Do you know which of Europe's thousands of mountains is the tallest? How about which country in Europe is the largest by land area?

If you know the answers to these questions and others like them, or want to challenge yourself to improve your knowledge, this quiz is right for you. It will look at European countries, landscapes, populations, inhabitants and more. So, get your passport ready, and prepare to take on our challenging European geography quiz. How many of these questions can you answer correctly?

PeskyMonkey / E+ / Getty Images

How many countries are there in Europe?

44

28

100

72

Europe is home to 44 countries. This is the number, according to the United Nations. The continent is home to other areas and dependencies, but these are not considered countries by most.

oxygen / Moment / Getty Images

There are many large countries in Europe, but which is the largest by area?

Ukraine

France

Russia

Spain

Russia is the largest country in Europe by an incredibly large margin. It has an area of 6.60 million mi², compared to just over 233,062 mi² by the next closest country, Ukraine.

When was the EU founded?

1881

1993

1934

2008

The European Union is an organization that comprises of many European nations. The EU was founded on November 1, 1993, to enhance European integration and unify policies shared by its member countries.

Achim Thomae / Moment / Getty Images

Which country in Europe is shaped like a boot?

Norway

Croatia

Poland

Italy

One of the most beautiful countries on the planet, Italy is known to many by its shape, which resembles a boot, particularly the southeastern part of the country.

Evgeni Dinev Photography / Moment / Getty Images

According to WorldAtlas.com, as of 2018, which European city is the oldest?

Trikala

Argos

Plovdiv

Larnaca

While many think Athens is the oldest city in Europe, that is not the case. That distinction goes to Plovdiv in Bulgaria. The city was founded around 6,000 B.C, making it the oldest by a wide margin, according to WorldAtlas.com.

Max Ryazanov / Moment Open / Getty Images

Flowing throughout Russia, what is the longest river in Europe?

Don River

Danube River

Ural River

Volga River

While these are all names of long rivers in Europe, none are longer than the Volga. It is found in Russia and spans 3,692 km long, nearly 1,000 km longer than the second-longest river, which is the Danube.

Alexander Spatari / Moment / Getty Images

According to the World Bank, in 2018, what is the average GDP per capita (Current US$) of Ukraine?

$35,500

$3,095

$14,450

$11,999

While many European countries and sovereign states aren't all that wealthy and have gone through some struggles, Ukraine is currently the poorest of them all, recently unseating Moldova for that title. According to the World Bank, their GDP per capita in 2018 was $3,095.

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Where is the headquarters for the EU located?

Zurich

London

Paris

Brussels

The headquarters for the EU is in Brussels, Belgium. While there is no official capital of the European Union, many believe that the de facto capital is Brussels. This is because it holds many seats in the European Parliament.

Marcutti / Moment / Getty Images

What is the capital of Croatia?

Zagreb

Pula

Split

Zadar

In addition to being the capital of Croatia, Zagreb is also the largest city in the country as it is home to around 800,000 people. With the population of Croatia only around 4 million, it makes up a large chunk of the country.

Max Ryazanov / Moment / Getty Images

How many people call Moscow home?

2.5 million

12 million

25 million

6 million

Not only is Russia the biggest country in Europe, it is also home to one of Europe's largest cities, Moscow. The city has a population of 12 million, which is the largest in Europe (unless you count Istanbul, Turkey).

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While many different currencies are used throughout Europe, which one is the most common and popular?

Krona

Pound

Franc

Euro

As you might suspect, the most popular and commonly used currency in Europe is the euro. It is used by approximately 25 different countries throughout the continent.

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The world's largest inland body of water is in Europe. What is it called?

Lake Baikal

Caspian Sea

Lake Baldoga

Lake Balkhash

The Caspian Sea is by far the largest inland body of water on the planet. It has an area of over 370,000 KM squared. The next closest is Lake Superior, which is only around 82,000 KM squared.

Nuwan / Moment / Getty Images

Who is the former UK Prime Minister who resigned on May 24th, 2019?

Tony Blair

David Cameron

Jeremy Corbyn

Theresa May

Since 2016, Theresa May has been the Prime Minister of the UK. However, she announced in late May 2019, that she would resign. She will continue to hold the position until a successor is named. (Note: As of this writing, May was set to be replaced within a few days.)

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Which city does the British Royal Family call home?

Madrid

Paris

London

Zurich

The Royal Family live in Buckingham Palace, which is located in London. It was built in 1703 but has had several changes and additions over the last few hundred years, of course.

Christopher Chan / Moment / Getty Images

If you want to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower, which city do you need to visit?

Paris

Venice

Sevilla

Lisbon

If you want to visit the Eiffel Tower, you need to head to Paris, France. The Eiffel Tower is without a doubt one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and is visited by millions every year.

Yuji Sakai / DigitalVision / Getty Images

How many landlocked countries are there in Europe?

32

28

17

5

In Europe, there are 17 different countries that are landlocked. A landlocked country is one that is completely enclosed by land, without and coastline. Worldwide, there are nearly 50 landlocked countries.

www.christophefaugere.com / Moment / Getty Images

Of what country is Minsk the capital?

Russia

Belarus

Austria

Slovakia

Minsk is the capital of the European country of Belarus. In addition to being the capital city of the country, it is also the largest. Minsk has a capital city population of nearly 2 million people.

taseffski / E+ / Getty Images

Which European city is home to a large clock tower often called Big Ben?

Athens

Rome

Liverpool

London

Arguably the most famous clock and clock tower on the planet, Big Ben is located in London. The clock was constructed and completed in 1859 and was the largest chiming clock at the time.

Jialiang Gao / Moment Open / Getty Images

Of all the large mountains in Europe, which is the tallest?

Shkhara

Monte Rosa

Mount Elbrus

Mount Tiede

Located in Russia, Mount Elbrus is the tallest mountain in Europe. It stands at 5,642 meters high, a few hundred meters taller than the next closest mountain. Throughout history, it has been climbed numerous times.

fhm / Moment / Getty Images

What country listed here does not share a border with Poland?

France

Germany

Belarus

Ukraine

Of the four countries listed, only France doesn't share a border with Poland. Other countries that share a border with Poland include the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia. However, it isn't landlocked as it has a coastline to the north.

Rui Almeida Fotografia / Moment / Getty Images

Which small country is located directly to the west of Spain?

Sweden

Germany

Italy

Portugal

Portugal shares a border with Spain. Portugal is a lovely country that is quite similar to Spain and has a beautiful coastline. The capital of Portugal is Lisbon.

Sergey Alimov / Moment / Getty Images

Europe has several populous countries, but which has the highest population?

Russia

Germany

Italy

England

Along with being the largest country by land area in Europe, Russia is also the most populous country in the continent. The total population of the country is more than 140 million, tens of millions more than the next closest country.

Kitti Boonnitrod / Moment / Getty Images

How many Nordic countries are there?

15

Five

Eight

12

Generally, there are believed to be five different Nordic countries. They are Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. Many of these countries consistently rank highly when it comes to the best places to live.

Frida Gruffman / Moment / Getty Images

IKEA is an incredibly popular store. In which European country was it founded?

Sweden

Denmark

Iceland

Germany

IKEA has stores all over the world and is known for its household items and furniture. However, the store got its start in Sweden and was founded in 1943 by Swedish businessman Ingvar Kamprad.

Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Moment / Getty Images

Which European country has the highest per capita GDP?

Luxembourg

Switzerland

Germany

Poland

Luxembourg is a small country located in Western Europe. It is a very wealthy nation, where the average GDP per capita is over $100,000, well higher than every other country in Europe.

Steffen Schnur / Moment / Getty Images

How many countries does the Alps mountain range go through?

Four

Eight

12

16

The Alps is among the largest mountain ranges on the planet, and it travels through eight different nations. This includes countries such as Germany, France and Switzerland, to name a few.

Ian.CuiYi / Moment / Getty Images

Which city would you need to visit in order to see The Coliseum?

Venice

Sevilla

Rome

Athens

If you want to pay a visit to the legendary Coliseum, you need to go to Rome. The Coliseum was completed in 80 A.D and had an average audience of 65,000 people during its prime. It was used for a variety of events, such as gladiator battles and public speeches.

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Ibiza, an incredibly popular island for partying, is a part of which European country?

Croatia

Bulgaria

France

Spain

If you like to party, Ibiza is a place to check out. It is one of the Balearic Islands, which are Spanish. It hosts popular outdoor parties, and people all over Europe and the rest of the world will often travel there.

Tomasz Bobrzynski (tomanthony) / Moment / Getty Images

Which two countries have the largest forest in Europe?

Germany and France

Poland and Belarus

Spain and Portugal

Greece and Bulgaria

The largest forest in Europe is the Bialowieza Forest, which has an area of over 3,000 KM squared. It is located in both Belarus and Poland and is home to incredibly large and old trees, some that are hundreds of years old.

Suttipong Sutiratanachai / Moment / Getty Images

Where in Europe does the Pope live?

Vatican City

London

Zurich

Stockholm

The Pope calls Vatican City home. Vatican City is located within the limits of Rome but is its own sovereign state. It is home to many different cultural and religious landmarks, such as the Sistine Chapel.

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Which of these countries is currently scheduled to leave the EU?

France

Italy

England

Belgium

While it hasn't officially happened yet, England is scheduled to leave the EU as a result of Brexit. The exit was supposed to take place on March 29, 2019, but the deadline has been extended until October 31, 2019.

boonchai wedmakawand / Moment / Getty Images

Where in Europe was the birthplace of democracy?

Athens

London

Paris

Stockholm

While it is tough to nail down exacts, Athens is believed to be where the concept of democracy began. It dates back to a form of government in Athens, which existed as far back as 508 B.C.

meshaphoto / E+ / Getty Images

How was the name "Europe" decided on?

It was a vote among residents

Named after the first person to discover it

The origins are not known

Named after Europa, a Phoenician princess in Greek mythology

The name for Europe is believed to have come from Greek mythology and a Phoenician princess named Europa. The naming of the continent dates back thousands and thousands of years.

samxmeg / E+ / Getty Images

How many countries directly border Russia?

10

Three

14

21

As you could imagine with the sheer size of Russia and how far it spans, it shares its borders with many different countries. In total, there are 14 countries that border Russia, including some in Europe and some in Asia.

cristians.ro / Moment Open / Getty Images

Which European country was the first to decriminalize all drugs?

Portugal

Greece

Spain

Russia

In 2001, Portugal decided to get rid of all penalties and fines for possessing any kinds of drugs. While other nations have experimented with this idea, none dealt with it as quickly and early as Portugal did.

Bertlmann / E+ / Getty Images

If you like to drive fast, you need to check out the Autobahn highway, which is located in what country?

Czech Republic

Poland

Germany

Lithuania

Germany is home to the Autobahn. There are no federally mandated and controlled speed limits for certain types of vehicles. However, if areas are urbanized or under construction, speed limits can be posted.

@ Didier Marti / Moment / Getty Images

In which country is Amsterdam located?

Belgium

Denmark

Germany

Netherlands

Amsterdam is the most popular (and capital) city of the Netherlands. It is known for its heritage, culture and the gorgeous canal system that flows throughout it. It is one of the most visited cities in all of Europe.

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The Olympic Games are famous all around the world. Which European nation founded them?

Belarus

Greece

Russia

England

The Olympics, which features the world's best athletes and is watched by billions of viewers, can trace its beginnings to Ancient Greece. Ancient Olympic Games took place from 8th century B.C to 4th century A.D.

Deborah Lynn Guber / Moment / Getty Images

How many people live in Vatican City?

1.2 million

85,000

33,000

1,000

While it is technically a sovereign state, Vatican City is often seen as the smallest country in Europe and the world. This minuscule nation has a population of around 1,000 residents, including the pope.

zhuyufang / E+ / Getty Images

Which city is the capital of the Czech Republic?

Ostrava

Brno

Prague

Liberec

Prague is not only the capital of the Czech Republic and home to 2 million people, but it is also quickly becoming one of the hottest tourist destinations in the entire continent. Its culture makes it a must-visit for many.

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